The Lewisham Centre for young Musicians opened on 7th January 1997 and was set up by Lewisham Council and the London Centre for young Musicians with support for the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Foundation for young Musicians in response to a lack of instrumental learning opportunities for young children across the borough. Based at Sedgehill secondary school in the south of the borough, LCYM is one of 12 similar centres across London affiliated to the London Centre for Young Musicians which itself is located at Morley College in Westminster. The Lewisham Music Service has been responsible for the funding of the Centre since April 2005. This year the Centre celebrates 10 years’ of success.
The Centre operates on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – 13:00 for 30 weeks per year and provides opportunities for children to receive a holistic music education through instrumental learning and creative music practice supported by other music studies including singing, recorders, keyboard skills, musical literacy and ensemble work. All members are on an individualised timetable that ensures an integrated approach to music learning and a musically rich enhanced experience. An individualised timetable means that not everyone will be in attendance for the whole morning. There are a number of opportunities for members to participate in performance events across the year as well creative workshops and joint concerts with other musicians and organisations. The have included the Deptford Centre and the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, with whom LCYM members have performed a number of world premiers – further details are given below.
 Instruments currently on offer include:
- Oboe
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Bassoon
- Trumpet
- French Horn
- Trombone
- Percussion (including orchestral percussion, drum kit and world percussion)
- Violin
- Cello
Members have the option of taking graded music exams as recommended by their tutors and many of them are of grade 5 standard or higher. Sessions that support the preparation for graded examinations include Listening and Aural Skills, Music Literacy and Keyboard Skills. The Creative Music sessions enable members to develop abilities such as improvisation and leadership skills.
Some of our successes
Over the years, the Centre has been privileged to perform, alongside the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, in a number of world premiers of specially commissioned works by highly regarded and international composers, resulting in performances at such esteemed venues as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall. World premiers have included A Summa Caelo (Paul Robinson) in 2002, Cinderella (Vladimir Tarnopolski) in 2003, Apollo – specially written for the 13 local authority JCYM’s, (Philip Cashian) 2004 and Body Mission – a body percussion piece, (Assaf Seewi) 2004. In March 2005, the Centre took part in a joint concert with the Deptford Centre before the move to the Albany. We are planning to do another such performance in the summer term 2006.
Access
The current access criteria is as follows:
- The applicant must either be attending a Lewisham school or be resident in the borough
- On entry, the applicant must be in key stage 2 (year 3 to 6) - this applies to Category 1 only.
- The applicant must be recommend by their instrumental teacher
- The application must be endorsed by the head teacher of the school attended
Making an application
There are three possible categories of entry to the Centre:
- Category 1: Instrumental Tuition & Core Curriculum – suitable for those who wish to learn to play a musical instrument. Usually, these applicants are in years 3 – 5.
- Category 2: Ensembles & Core Curriculum – suitable for those already learning an instrument perhaps in school, or privately who wish to gain and develop ensemble skills and general and creative music skills. These applicants are usually in years 5 upwards.
- Category 3: Ensembles and Orchestra – suitable for those at an advanced level of learning (grade 3 or 4 upwards), who wish to play in an advanced ensemble or orchestra. Please note that there is an assessment for entry to the orchestra.
 Application forms can be download by clicking here or by contacting James Thomas, Head of Centre on 07956 385 088 or LCYM@jtmusic.org.uk.
Costs
There is currently a termly fee of £25 and £10 concessions, for which proof is required. All cheques should be made payable to the London Borough of Lewisham.
Progression Routes
There are a number of possible progression routes from the Lewisham Centre both within the borough e.g. Lewisham Schools Concert Band, and outside – See other areas within this website for Lewisham based progression routes. Progression routes outside of the borough include Junior Trinity and Junior Guildhall. Many of our members have gone on to the London Centre for Young Musicians to continue their studies. Here they are able to work with some of the finest musicians and music educators in the country. Other opportunities available include the London Youth Wind Band, which is run by CYM London.
In September 2007, the London Centre for Young Musicians joins the ranks of junior departments of the Royal Schools of Music and others such as Chetham’s, the Purchell School and the Yehudi Menuhin School as it gains status as a specialist centre of advanced training in music under the DfES Music and Dance Scheme (MDS). CYM London will be one of nine other non-residential MDS schools nationally. It is extremely fortunate that the Lewisham Centre is affiliated to CYM London as the opportunities for children in the borough could now be greatly enhanced. |
